THE PRESIDENCY: The White House Week: Jan. 4, 1926

The White House Week

¶ President Harrison H. Appleby, Vice President Coral Royce, Secretary of State Margaret Grenning, Secretary of the Treasury Lauren Parrot, Secretary of Commerce Evelyn Reglin, called at the White House, were shaken by the hand and thanked for a resolution from the George Junior Republic of Freeyille, N. Y., indorsing the President’s views on the World Court.

¶ The Big Parade, a cinema play of the War written by Laurence Stallings, co-author of What Price Glory, was taken from a four weeks’ run on Broadway for a special one-night stand in the East Room of the White House. A 23-piece orchestra accompanied the film to Washington. Secretaries and Congressmen looked on as presidential guests.

¶ Mrs. Coolidge attended a recital by Paderewski at Poll’s Theatre (see Music).

¶ To Emiliano Figueroa Larrain, Calvin Coolidge cabled: “I desire to offer to your Excellency felicitations on your induction this day into the high office of President of Chile and best wishes for the successful administration of the affairs of your republic, conducing alike to your own fame and to the prosperity and happiness of the Chilean people.”

¶ President and Mrs. Coolidge opened Washington’s Community Christmas by lighting a great tree and hearing Christmas carols. Mrs. Coolidge also paid a Christmas visit to the Children’s Hospital, kissed tiny mouths, cuddled cripples.

¶ President Coolidge appointed Howard Sutherland, onetime (1917-23) Senator from West Virginia, to succeed the late Frederick C. Hicks (TIME, Dec. 28, MILESTONES) as Alien Property Custodian.

¶ John Coolidge, at the White House for Christmas, was invited to a dance in honor of a local debutante, Miss Lydia Archbold. He went without his admission card. A butler requested his name. “John Coolidge.” The butler shook his head at the young gatecrasher: “Very sorry, sir, but your name is not on the list. Call some other time.” Then Miss Lydia Archbold herself happened on the scene. . . .

¶ The President, going to his office the day before Christmas, inspected the bundles piled up for him. Some few interested him. In spite of “Don’t Open Until Christmas,” he ripped them open and peeped. Mrs. Coolidge received for Christmas a fur coat made of caracul from Austria, platinum fox from Russia. The Fur Manufacturers and Merchants Association was the donor. Colonel John C. Coolidge at Plymouth, Vt., received a box of Christmas edibles from the White House, not to mention about 50 Christmas cards from friends.

¶ A telephone call from Plymouth Vt., notified the President that his father had become paralyzed in the right leg. Colonel Coolidge’s condition was not believed to be serious.